Friends of San Leandro Creek: Mural

"Nature's Hidden Treasure,"

During the summer of 1998 over 100 hard working volunteers, ranging from 5 to 70 years of age working together, put in over 2,300 hours on weekends in painting the San Leandro Creek Mural, entitled "Nature’s Hidden Treasure," located at Root Park in downtown San Leandro.

The City of San Leandro has a rich and complex history, and San Leandro Creek has flowed through the middle of it all since the beginning. For several years, the Friends of San Leandro Creek have promoted community spirit and environmental awareness and activism centering on the creek. As an organization, the Friends sponsored the creation of the San Leandro Creek Mural, depicting the beauty of the creek and the community’s sense of history.

This public art project drew on the talents and support of many community organizations in addition to Friends of San Leandro Creek, including the San Leandro Historical Society, the San Leandro Police and Firefighters Associations, the San Leandro Recreation and Human Services, local businesses and service organizations.

The mural is providing yet another incentive for teachers and students to make educational visits to Root Park, by drawing attention to the environmental treasures of the creek and encouraging conversation and curriculum relating to native plants and animal habitat and water quality issues.

The design of the mural began with a challenge to San Leandro High School art classes to create a concept drawing depicting the natural history of San Leandro Creek. Over 30 exceptional entries were received, and the San Leandro Creek Mural Committee chose a winner. This committee consists of the President of the Friends of San Leandro Creek, the San Leandro Police Chief, the Executive Director of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, the City of San Leandro’s Volunteer Services Assistant, the City of San Leandro’s Economic Development Director, the City of San Leandro’s Watershed Awareness Coordinator, and several members of the Friends of San Leandro Creek, including art enthusiasts and a civil engineer. Muralist Veronica Lacarra Werckmeister was then hired to incorporate the winning drawing with positive aspects from other entries into a comprehensive, appropriate and beautiful mural design.

The final mural covers approximately 19,500 square feet. Please visit it at Root Park, located off of East 14^th Street at Hays Street, just south of San Leandro City Hall. Once you see the mural you will understand why it is entitled "Nature’s Hidden Treasure."

If you are unable to visit Rook Park you can take a quick pictorial trip of "Nature’s Hidden Treasure".

Click here to see the Congressional Acknowledgment of San Leandro Creek Mural